Ex-coach charged with ripping off cheer team bound over

The ex-coach charged with stealing $9,700 from a Farmington High School cheer squad heads to Oakland County Circuit Court for arraignment July 30.

Westland resident Kandice Hernandez, 25, faces one count of larceny by conversion. She was bound over for trial on July 22, after waiving a preliminary exam in Farmington Hills’ 47th District Court.

Circuit Judge Denise Langford Morris is assigned to the case.

According to Ted Warthman, Farmington Public Safety’s deputy director, during a June interview with investigators Hernandez admitted taking the funds for her personal use such as travel and to pay bills. The case emerged when a check issued by the team’s boosters — Farmington Cheer Backers — couldn’t be cashed due to insufficient funds. An investigation revealed Hernandez had never added the boosters’ president and vice president as she was supposed to do.

Hernandez closed the account the day after the investigation began.

Since word of the money loss was made known, the Farmington-Farmington Hills community and others have responded with fundraisers and donations, totaling in excess of $15,000. Sources include a Go Fund Me account, $9,000 from Great Expressions Dental Center and $5,000 from a June 19 fundraiser at Colonial Car Wash.

“The team was so engaged that day, all of them thanking customers while drying off the cars and doing cheers,” said Holly Owen, car wash owner. “It was fun to help this great group and as we watched, their spirit and enthusiasm returned throughout the day.”

awingblad@hometownlife.com | 248-390-3976 Twitter:@awingblad

Read or Share this story: https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/farmington/2015/07/28/farmington-cheer-fundraiser-theft-crime/30782891/